Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to peace, democratic governance, and regional integration in West Africa, calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to sustain progress across the region.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this in Abuja at the 2026 Voice of Nigeria (VON) Forum.
The Information Minister stressed that Nigeria’s long-standing leadership role in West Africa remains critical to the region’s stability and prosperity.
“For over five decades, Nigeria has remained at the forefront of efforts to promote peace, democratic governance, and regional integration across West Africa,” he said.
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On regional diplomacy, Idris noted that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria has intensified engagement with West African leaders to address political transitions and reinforce democratic norms, pointing to ongoing efforts within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to strengthen collective security, including plans for a regional counter-terrorism force.
“Nigeria remains firmly committed to working with regional partners to promote dialogue, strengthen institutions, and ensure lasting peace across West Africa,” he said.
Idris stressed that Nigeria’s fortunes are deeply interconnected with those of its neighbours, noting that sustainable development in the region depends on collective stability.
“Nigeria’s stability and progress are closely tied to West Africa’s stability. A peaceful and democratic region creates opportunities for growth, investment, and shared prosperity,” he stated.
Speaking on economy, Idris further disclosed that Nigeria’s debt profile is improving, with the debt-to-GDP ratio declining for the first time in a decade. He noted that projections indicate Nigeria could surpass Algeria to become Africa’s third-largest economy.
In a significant boost to investor sentiment, the minister pointed to Nigeria’s recent upgrade by FTSE Russell.
“This signals renewed global investor confidence and positions Nigeria as a competitive destination for global capital,” he noted, referencing the country’s reclassification from “unclassified” to “frontier market” status.
While highlighting the role of strategic communication, the minister described the Voice of Nigeria as a vital tool in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and strengthening its global voice.
According to him, VON continues to project Nigeria’s image internationally while countering misinformation and promoting accurate narratives about the country’s role in regional development.
“Central to this legacy is the Voice of Nigeria. Established in 1961, VON has evolved into a key instrument of public diplomacy, broadcasting in English, French, Arabic, and several African languages to audiences across Africa, Europe, and beyond. It promotes Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, counters misinformation, and ensures our contributions to regional peace and development are accurately represented,” he noted.
The Minister emphasised that sustaining democracy and regional stability requires more than government action, calling for broader participation from non-state actors.
“Government alone cannot achieve these goals; we need the media, the private sector, civil society, and international partners,” he said.
He described the VON Forum as a platform for critical reflection and forward-thinking dialogue, reaffirming commitment to ensuring Nigeria is projected positively on the global scene.
“This forum is about shaping the future, examining progress, confronting challenges, and identifying pathways forward. The Federal Ministry of Information, working closely with VON, remains committed to ensuring Nigeria is accurately represented, and our contributions to regional progress are fully recognised,” he said.
Idris further urged stakeholders to remain committed to the shared ideals that have defined Nigeria’s role in the region for over five decades.
The VON Forum 2026 forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s public diplomacy and reinforce its leadership position within West Africa.
The event, with the theme “51 years of Nigeria’s Role in Deepening Democratic Stability in ECOWAS”, brought together policymakers, diplomats, media professionals, and development partners to examine Nigeria’s contributions to regional peace and future pathways for cooperation.
